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🌱 Gardening by the Moon

Gardening by the moon is one of the oldest farming traditions around, and plenty of gardeners still swear by it. The phase sets the broad rhythm: the waxing moon for sowing and growth above ground, the waning moon for roots, pruning and weeding. On top of that, each day gets a type based on the element of the zodiac sign the moon is passing through.

Fire signs (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius) make fruit days, earth signs (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn) make root days, air signs (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius) make flower days and water signs (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces) make leaf days. Tradition says plants tended on their matching day do best. Your tomatoes may not read the calendar, but following it is a lovely excuse to spend more time outside.

🍎 Fruit day

Fruit days fall when the moon is in a fire sign and are traditionally best for tomatoes, beans, berries and anything grown for its fruit or seeds.

🥕 Root day

Root days fall when the moon is in an earth sign and are traditionally best for carrots, potatoes, onions and other crops that grow underground.

🌸 Flower day

Flower days fall when the moon is in an air sign and are traditionally best for sowing, cutting and caring for flowers.

🥬 Leaf day

Leaf days fall when the moon is in a water sign and are traditionally best for lettuce, spinach, herbs and other plants grown for their leaves.

Garden calendar for the next six weeks

DateSignDayPhase
Mo, Oct 12♏ Scorpio🥬 Leaf day🌔 Waxing Crescent
Tu, Oct 13♏ Scorpio🥬 Leaf day🌔 Waxing Crescent
We, Oct 14♐ Sagittarius🍎 Fruit day🌔 Waxing Crescent
Th, Oct 15♐ Sagittarius🍎 Fruit day🌔 Waxing Crescent
Fr, Oct 16♐ Sagittarius🍎 Fruit day🌔 Waxing Crescent
Sa, Oct 17♑ Capricorn🥕 Root day🌔 Waxing Crescent
Su, Oct 18♑ Capricorn🥕 Root day🌔 First Quarter
Mo, Oct 19♒ Aquarius🌸 Flower day🌔 Waxing Gibbous
Tu, Oct 20♒ Aquarius🌸 Flower day🌔 Waxing Gibbous
We, Oct 21♒ Aquarius🌸 Flower day🌔 Waxing Gibbous
Th, Oct 22♓ Pisces🥬 Leaf day🌔 Waxing Gibbous
Fr, Oct 23♓ Pisces🥬 Leaf day🌔 Waxing Gibbous
Sa, Oct 24♈ Aries🍎 Fruit day🌔 Waxing Gibbous
Su, Oct 25♈ Aries🍎 Fruit day🌔 Waxing Gibbous
Mo, Oct 26♉ Taurus🥕 Root day🌖 Full Moon
Tu, Oct 27♉ Taurus🥕 Root day🌖 Waning Gibbous
We, Oct 28♊ Gemini🌸 Flower day🌖 Waning Gibbous
Th, Oct 29♊ Gemini🌸 Flower day🌖 Waning Gibbous
Fr, Oct 30♋ Cancer🥬 Leaf day🌖 Waning Gibbous
Sa, Oct 31♋ Cancer🥬 Leaf day🌖 Waning Gibbous
Su, Nov 1♌ Leo🍎 Fruit day🌖 Last Quarter
Mo, Nov 2♌ Leo🍎 Fruit day🌖 Waning Crescent
Tu, Nov 3♍ Virgo🥕 Root day🌖 Waning Crescent
We, Nov 4♍ Virgo🥕 Root day🌖 Waning Crescent
Th, Nov 5♍ Virgo🥕 Root day🌖 Waning Crescent
Fr, Nov 6♎ Libra🌸 Flower day🌖 Waning Crescent
Sa, Nov 7♎ Libra🌸 Flower day🌖 Waning Crescent
Su, Nov 8♏ Scorpio🥬 Leaf day🌖 Waning Crescent
Mo, Nov 9♏ Scorpio🥬 Leaf day🌔 New Moon
Tu, Nov 10♐ Sagittarius🍎 Fruit day🌔 Waxing Crescent
We, Nov 11♐ Sagittarius🍎 Fruit day🌔 Waxing Crescent
Th, Nov 12♐ Sagittarius🍎 Fruit day🌔 Waxing Crescent
Fr, Nov 13♑ Capricorn🥕 Root day🌔 Waxing Crescent
Sa, Nov 14♑ Capricorn🥕 Root day🌔 Waxing Crescent
Su, Nov 15♒ Aquarius🌸 Flower day🌔 Waxing Crescent
Mo, Nov 16♒ Aquarius🌸 Flower day🌔 Waxing Crescent
Tu, Nov 17♒ Aquarius🌸 Flower day🌔 First Quarter
We, Nov 18♓ Pisces🥬 Leaf day🌔 Waxing Gibbous
Th, Nov 19♓ Pisces🥬 Leaf day🌔 Waxing Gibbous
Fr, Nov 20♈ Aries🍎 Fruit day🌔 Waxing Gibbous
Sa, Nov 21♈ Aries🍎 Fruit day🌔 Waxing Gibbous
Su, Nov 22♉ Taurus🥕 Root day🌔 Waxing Gibbous

These moon traditions are folklore, not science, but they have charmed gardeners and hairdressers for centuries and they are still a lot of fun.